Monastery will re-open as hotel

THE PURISSIMA CONCEPCIO MONASTERY in Benissa will re-open as a hotel, it was announced this week.

The closure of the Franciscanfriary – founded in 1613- was announced in June by Benissa Town Council who confirmed that the remaining four friars could no longer maintain the building due to its size and their age.

Over 250 people attend what was supposed to be a ‘small’ leaving ceremony in August when the friars moved out.

The monastery –declared of Cultural Interest (BIC) – was offered to Caritas and to the Commission for Assistance to Refugees: meetings were held by the council to decide a future use for the space, linked to Benissa and its history but the high cost of restoring the building made the project unfeasible for the NGOs.

Father Angel, who lived at the friary between 1980 and 1991 said that the church within the monastery will not form part of the agreement with the hotelier – it will remain fully functional for the Franciscans of Benissa to meet and worship once a month.